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But new plans announced today as part of the government's new draft Domestic Abuse Bill will give anyone a legal right to check out a potential partner.

The government said Clare's Law enabled the police to make 'informed and balanced decisions' about disclosure of an individual’s previous abusive or violent offending in order to protect potential victims.

Killer George Appleton (Image: PA)

The Home Office said: "The new provisions in the draft Domestic Abuse Bill will place the guidance that underpins DVDS onto a statutory footing – this will help to raise awareness of the scheme amongst members of the public and the police and will drive greater use and consistent application of the scheme across all police forces by placing an express duty on the police to have regard to the guidance."

New figures also reveal today the extent to which Clare's Law has been used.

There were 5,649 disclosures made in year ending March last year, an increase of 66 per cent on the previous year.

Right to know applications rose by 47 per cent and right to ask applications by 111 per cent.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Domestic abuse is a shocking crime that has a truly devastating effect on victims – and costs billions of pounds a year.

Clare Wood's murder led to the launch of Clare's Law (Image: PA)

"That is why we are strengthening our response through the ground-breaking draft Domestic Abuse Bill. This will ensure we give victims the full support they need and bring to justice those who are causing misery in homes up and down the country."

The Prime Minister said the contents of the draft bill represent a 'step change' in government policy towards domestic violence.

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Domestic abuse victims will no longer face cross-examination by their abusers in family courts and the new legislation will introduce the first statutory definition of domestic abuse to specifically include economic abuse and controlling and manipulative, non-physical abuse.

A domestic abuse commissioner to drive the response to domestic abuse issues will be created, alongside new domestic abuse protection notices and court orders to further protect victims and place restrictions on the actions of offenders.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid (Image: PA)

Theresa May said: "We know, from the harrowing experiences of victims and their families, that there is still more to do to stamp out this life-shattering crime and the Domestic Abuse Bill will lead the way in bringing about the changes we need to achieve this."

Ms Wood, who lived on St Simon Street, off Blackfriars Road near the River Irwell, met Appleton, of Adelphi Court, on Facebook.

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She was unaware of his history of violence against women, including harassment, threats and the knife-point kidnapping of one of his girlfriends.

An inquest into his death found he had committed suicide and that his state of mind had been affected by the guilt of committing murder.

A coroner who recorded a verdict of unlawful killing by strangulation as the cause of Ms Wood's death after an inquest said people at risk of harm have the right to know of 'relevant information in the possession of the state'.